Apparatus and method for sanitizing fruits
OwnerRichard Rosenthalinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus and method are provided for sanitizing citrus fruit which includes an ultraviolet radiation station for both irradiating of fruit with ultraviolet light and generating ozone. An infrared radiation station is provided for irradiating the ultraviolet light irradiated fruit with infrared light and an ozone tank is utilized for exposing the ultraviolet light and infrared light irradiated fruit to a mixture of water and ozone. The ozone generated at the ultraviolet radiation station is collected and thereafter introduced into the ozone tank.
Claims21
Apparatus for sanitizing citrus fruit comprising:
- an ultraviolet radiation station having means for both irradiating citrus fruit with ultraviolet light and generating ozone;
- an infrared radiation station having means for irradiating the ultraviolet light irradiated citrus fruit with infrared light;
- means for moving the ultraviolet light irradiated citrus fruit from the ultraviolet radiation station to the infrared radiation station;
- ozone tank means for exposing the ultraviolet light and infrared light irradiated citrus fruit to a mixture of water and ozone;
- means for moving the ultraviolet light and infrared light irradiated citrus fruit from the infrared radiation station to the ozone tank means;
- means for collecting the ozone generated at the ultraviolet radiation station;
- and
- means for introduction of the collected ozone into the ozone tank means.
Apparatus for sanitizing fruit comprising:
- a water rinse tank;
- means for introducing fruit into the water rinse tank;
- means for removing fruit from the water rinse tank, said means for removing fruit and means for introducing fruit being spaced apart from one another;
- ultraviolet means for both irradiating the fruit with ultraviolet light and generating ozone, said ultraviolet means being disposed between the means for introducing fruit and the means for removing fruit;
- infrared means for irradiating the ultraviolet light irradiated fruit with infrared light, said infrared means being disposed between the ultraviolet means and the means for removing fruit;
- ozone tank means for exposing the ultraviolet light and infrared irradiated fruit to a mixture of water and ozone;
- means for moving the ultraviolet light and infrared light irradiated fruit from the water rinse tank to the ozone tank means;
- means for collecting the generated ozone;
- and
- means for introducing the collected ozone into the ozone tank means.
A method for sanitizing citrus fruit comprising the steps of:
- exposing citrus fruit to ultraviolet radiation at an ultraviolet and ozone generating station;
- exposing the ultraviolet exposed citrus fruit to infrared radiation;
- mixing ozone generated at the ultraviolet and ozone generating station with water;
- and
- submerging the ultraviolet and infrared exposed citrus fruit in the mixture of ozone and water.
A method for sanitizing citrus fruit comprising the steps of:
- exposing citrus fruit to ultraviolet radiation;
- exposing the ultraviolet exposed citrus fruit to infrared radiation;
- and
- submerging the ultraviolet and infrared exposed citrus fruit in a mixture of ozone and water.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.